Teen arrested after car chase

by Wes Mayer

A Newnan teenager was arrested by Newnan Police officers Wednesday night after unsuccessfully attempting to flee in his vehicle.

Around 8:30 p.m., Officer Sharwynne Rhein with the Newnan Police Department observed a driver of a white Volvo S80 run a red light at the intersection of East Broad Street and Pinson Street. Rhein stated in a police incident report that when he attempted to pull the driver over, the driver increased his speed and turned right onto East Washington Street without stopping at the stop sign.

The driver, later identified as Armond Assante Tucker, 18, of Newnan, continued to increase speeds to around 65 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to the officer. Tucker then turned left on Roberts Road traveling toward Berry Avenue, and one of two passengers in the vehicle jumped out of the car running.

The officer reported that, before Tucker approached Berry Avenue, the other passenger jumped out of the car and ran away as well. Tucker quickly made a left on Berry Avenue, swerving and speeding at 65 mph in a 30 mph zone.

Tucker continued speeding to the intersection of Farmer Street, where he too, attempted to jump out of the car, according to Rhein. However, when he opened his door, Rhein pulled alongside him and blocked his exit. Tucker then tried to turn right onto Farmer Street, but Lt. Jay LaChance arrived and blocked Tucker in with his patrol car. When Tucker tried a second time to flee on foot, LaChance was able to detain him.

According to Rhein, when officers spoke to Tucker, they detected a strong odor of marijuana and saw his eyes were glassy and blood shot. When officers asked for his name, he first said he was a juvenile named Deandre Brinkley — he was not carrying a license. After getting in touch with the suspect’s parents, he was correctly identified as an adult.

Tucker refused state chemical tests, and officers found a baggie containing suspected marijuana in the vehicle’s back seat, Rhein stated in his report. Tucker also refused to identify the two passengers who fled on foot.

Tucker was transported to the Coweta County Jail and charged with a stop light violation, two counts of a stop sign violation, failure to maintain lane, reckless driving, driving without a license, fleeing and attempting to elude officers, giving false information and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.